Vet4Life Customer care advisor Jimmy Ginger has completed the Brighton Half Marathon to raise funds for VetLife.
Jimmy Completes First Half-Marathon To Support Veterinary Profession
1 year ago 
554 views
A client care advisor from a leading south-west London vet practice has pushed through the pain barrier to finish his first half-marathon to help raise funds for charity.
Jimmy Ginger, who works at Linnaeus-owned Vet4Life in Teddington, finished the Brighton half-marathon in 2 hours 28 minutes while raising more than £400 for the charity VetLife.
Jimmy, who is training as a patient care assistant with the aim of becoming a veterinary nurse, said: “My legs were in pain and it was probably the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done, but I finished it!
“I completed it in under two-and-a-half hours which I don’t think is too bad for someone running their first half-marathon.”
However, it quite literally wasn’t a walk in the park as Jimmy battled nerves and excitement at the start line before settling into the marathon itself.
Jimmy added: “Once I got to the fourth mile, I had a pain in my right shoulder, by the sixth mile I got stitch. My ankles felt like I was dragging an anchor and that’s before I got nasty cramp in my left leg by the 10th mile.
“Once I crossed the finish line I let out a big yell and was a little emotional. I would never have pictured myself doing something like this but I’m proud.
“Veterinary staff around the UK work so hard and sacrifice so much for their work, so I did it for my vets, my nurses, my reception team, everyone who inspires me and looks after our little furry friends day-to-day.”
VetLife provides independent, confidential and free help for everyone in the veterinary community including veterinary nurses, students and non-clinical staff.
Roxanne O’Brien, practice manager at Vet4Life in Teddington, said: “It was a great effort by Jimmy and everyone at Vet4Life is really proud of him, especially so as it was for a really worthwhile cause.”
There is still time to donate to Jimmy’s fundraising effort by visiting his Just Giving page.
For more information on Vet4Life, which also has clinics in Shepperton and Teddington, visit www.vet4life.co.uk.
For more information on VetLife, visit www.vetlife.org.uk.
More from Linnaeus Group
- Mars Veterinary Health pilots industry-leading anaesthetic gas capture technology to reduce carbon emissions
- West Midlands communication agency celebrates national award for veterinary marketing campaign
- Senior receptionist celebrates 10 years at Ashby vet practice
- Best 'paws' forward for worthy cat cause
- Dog cheats death thanks to surgery skills of Cheshire vets